In Memorium

News

Part of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting agenda is including a "right to work" rule for public-sector employees. Several other Republican governors are considering similar measures for both the public and private sectors. Insofar as they succeed, these right-to-work measures will seriously weaken the bargaining power of workers.

Four union members, including President Harry Melander, are among 16 appointments by Governor Mark Dayton to the Metropolitan Council, the governor’s office announced Wednesday.

The Met Council oversees many important public services in the seven-county metropolitan area, including wastewater treatment, the bus system, affordable housing and regional planning. Council members serve at the pleasure of the governor and make governing decisions for the council.

About two months ago a group of financial experts from different walks of life published a preliminary report about our nation's current recession and what may have caused it. We have all heard different aspects and spins about that report which is now available online. Take a look at it and make up your own mind.

Reprinted from the StarTribune.com: A local pipefitters union has snapped up the old Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, paying $4.3 million for the private club and vowing to keep it private for at least two years. The union said it hopes to breathe new life into the business, which has been in the red with sliding membership. The all-cash deal closed earlier this month. Read more »

The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) announced a $50 million commitment of union pension capital to finance the substantial rehabilitation of the historic Riverside Plaza apartment complex. The investment will modernize the 1,303 housing units at the aging Minneapolis landmark, with work on the $123 million project expected to generate an estimated 635 union construction jobs. Read more »

The drama unfolding in Wisconsin enters its second week, and as tens of thousands of workers and their supporters ring the state's capitol expressing outrage over Union-busting Republican Governor Scott Walker's bill, the impasse doesn't appear to be headed towards a resolution anytime soon.

Only weeks have passed since the new Tea Party Republicans stormed into power promising to bring what they see as the hallmarks of good governance -- greater accountability, fiscal restraint and an ill-defined but unwavering devotion to the Constitution.

When you're listening to the many tributes to President Ronald Reagan, often for his talent making Americans feel better about themselves, you might want to spend a minute thinking about the many atrocities in Latin America and elsewhere that Reagan aided, covered up or shrugged off in his inimitable "aw shucks" manner. Read more »

First Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) announced a state budget plan that strips state workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights, cuts pay and benefits and says there will be no negotiations. Today he took it even further: He announced he has alerted the National Guard to be ready in case state workers strike or rise in protest. Read more »

Teamsters Local 320, representing some 11,500 public employees throughout Minnesota’s 81 counties, will launch a statewide print and radio campaign beginning Sunday, February 13, urging citizens to tell their legislators to stop the proposed 15% slash to public employee rolls and benefits as part of a Republican plan to plug the state’s $6.2 billion deficit. Read more »